Dental milling machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a dental milling machine which has a closed milling chamber ( 12 ). Said milling chamber has an air inlet opening and an outlet which are substantially opposite each other relative to the milling chamber and generate an air stream. Said air stream sweeps over a machining area in which a milling tool subjects the workpiece to a milling machining step. One end of the milling chamber ( 12 ), in particular the front end, has a door that can be opened. The base ( 42 ) of the milling space ( 12 ) runs at least partially at an angle and in particular is rounded off and the outlet ( 40 ) is connected to the lowest region of the base ( 42 ).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A dental milling machine comprising
 a closed milling chamber which has an air inlet opening and an outlet which are substantially opposite each other relative to the milling chamber and generate an air stream which sweeps over a machining area in which a milling tool subjects a workpiece to a milling machining step, 
 wherein one end of the milling chamber has a first door that can be opened, 
 wherein a base of the milling space runs at least partially at an angle, and is rounded off, the base being closed below the machining area and having substantially constant inclination, 
 wherein the outlet is connected to a lowest region of the base, 
 wherein the outlet is attached to an outer lower corner of the milling chamber, and 
 wherein at least one air nozzle and/or the air inlet opening are situated at an upper corner, diametrically opposite of a suction connection. 
 
     
     
       2. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the milling chamber is essentially made out of a single-piece preform, which has a chip-repellent and/or non-adhesive surface. 
 
     
     
       3. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein one side wall of the milling chamber has a movable partial wall or a second door for a passing-through of a milling workpiece and/or a milling tool. 
 
     
     
       4. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the base of the milling chamber is angled downwardly towards the outlet having an exhaust air opening and wherein the base forms a hollow fillet. 
 
     
     
       5. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one air nozzle comprises an air amplifying nozzle. 
 
     
     
       6. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a number of air nozzles and/or at least one deionizing electrode are arranged, 
 wherein the air nozzles are partially closable and the deionizing electrodes are coverable, 
 wherein the air nozzles are opened during wet milling and during milling of ceramic materials, and are closed during milling of plastic materials, and 
 wherein the deionizing electrodes are separated via blocking elements from the milling chamber otherwise during the wet milling and during the milling of ceramic materials, and are positioned within the air stream during the milling of plastic materials. 
 
     
     
       7. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein at least one air nozzle comprising one air amplifying nozzle and/or a number of air nozzles arranged next to each other, are oriented towards a machining area of the milling machine, and 
 wherein the machining area extends, relative to a centre of the milling chamber above the centre and beyond the centre, viewed from the outlet of the milling chamber, 
 wherein the number of air nozzles are attached at the top of the milling chamber and at least one air nozzle which is adjacent to a wall of the milling chamber extends with an axis at an angle relative to said wall. 
 
     
     
       8. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the milling chamber is formed entirely of one piece and free of obstacles or an undercut. 
 
     
     
       9. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the outlet is flange-mounted to a deepest point of the milling chamber and extends laterally away from said milling chamber, and 
 wherein during wet working an outlet hose or an outlet tube extends laterally and/or downwards away from the outlet. 
 
     
     
       10. The dental milling machine according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein a switching hatch or a switching valve for the outlet for switching between wet working and dry working is provided. 
 
     
     
       11. The dental milling machine according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein for dry working, a suction line that may be put under a vacuum and acts on the outlet, and 
 wherein for wet working, the outlet drains the wastewater and/or the milling sludge in a pressure-free fashion. 
 
     
     
       12. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a switching hatch that switches milling between wet milling and dry milling by closing the switching hatch for dry milling and opening or lifting the switching hatch for wet milling. 
 
     
     
       13. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein an inclination of the base underneath the machining area and underneath the workpiece carrier and the tool, has an inclination angle of between 5 and 60 degrees, or between 15 and 25 degrees, or approximately 20 degrees. 
 
     
     
       14. The dental milling machine according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the air stream has a current which extends along the base and is directed towards the outlet. 
 
     
     
       15. The dental milling machine according to  claim 5  comprising
 a control device for the air stream via which the air nozzles may be supplied with pulses of compressed air subsequently to a milling step. 
 
     
     
       16. The dental milling machine according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the control device switches on a suction air stream during the milling step at a suction power which is reduced compared with a maximum suction air stream, and the suction air stream sucks in air through the air nozzles. 
 
     
     
       17. The dental milling machine according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the single-piece preform is made of plastic. 
 
     
     
       18. The dental milling machine according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the one side wall of the milling chamber is a rear wall. 
 
     
     
       19. A dental milling machine comprising
 a closed milling chamber which has an air inlet opening and an outlet which are substantially opposite each other relative to the milling chamber and generate an air stream which sweeps over a machining area in which a milling tool subjects a workpiece to a milling machining step, 
 wherein a number of air nozzles and/or at least one deionizing electrode are arranged, 
 wherein one end of the milling chamber has a first door that can be opened, 
 wherein a base of the milling space runs at least partially at an angle, and is rounded off, the base being closed below the machining area and having substantially constant inclination, 
 wherein the outlet is connected to a lowest region of the base, 
 wherein the air nozzles are partially closable and the deionizing electrodes are coverable, 
 wherein the air nozzles are opened during wet milling and during milling of ceramic materials, and are closed during milling of plastic materials, and 
 wherein the deionizing electrodes are separated via blocking elements from the milling chamber otherwise during the wet milling and during the milling of ceramic materials, and are positioned within the air stream during the milling of plastic materials.